Let's Talk - Where Are You With Your Online Business?

[Lynn Terry]

I have tried a couple things like article marketing and putting in affiliate link to root level domain redirected to the affiliate offer. I actually made one sale there, but cant collect on that until i get like 4 different IP's to buy products from me. Its a clickbank product.

Have you tried duplicating that process - more articles, targeting more keyword phrases, and continuing until you make those 4 sales... and beyond?

[/QUOTE]I am trying to build out and monetize a blog related to the muscle building niche. I have a number two listing in google for the keyword I am using which I think is ok. Other than that, I am just struggling to put all the pieces together from A to B and make something profitable for me. I wasn't thinking this could be so hard, but apparently it is harder than most think! [/QUOTE]

The muscle-building niche is a tough one. It's full of very experienced marketers and affiliates - so be prepared to put a lot of work in there. I could say similar things about working with ClickBank products. It's certainly not where I would start out if it were me. ClickBank is not my favorite affiliate source for a number of reasons.

Both of the models you described are "ways to make money online". That's in direct contrast to starting a long-term profitable online business that you'll enjoy running.

If you haven't already read this post, it might be a good starting point for you: How to Choose A Niche

[Lynn Terry]

I'm making progress, just got a JV opportunity. Still can't believe it but I'm helping an MD market his wellness program for RNs. If I can bring in 14 nurses to his wellness program I will get $250 for each person plus I get to go through the program free.

Now all I have to do is market his program....I'm scared and I have tons of work to do.
I have a few ideas but could use any suggestions anyone has to help me.

Welcome to the forum, Tina

It sounds like you'll want to create a strategic niche marketing plan, test that plan and tweak it to perfection. If there's any way we can help - any questions you have - just start a thread here on the forum and we'll pitch in!

[Lynn Terry]

A bit about me: I put I am going through the motions..... I have a full time job, which to be fair I really enjoy so the 9-5 isn't a huge issue for me. Having said that I would love to have the freedom of working for myself, but the financial responsibility I have to my wife & 3 young kids would make an early move away not something I would consider.

My idea would is (like many people) to make a business grow slowly in the spare time I do have and get it to a stage where I was comfortable with the fact that spending extra time on it would support us financially - this is a long way off at the moment. Although on the plus side, I have made enough to pay for a holiday to Rome next week which I am really pleased about!!

Thanks for the note, Andrew

I've really enjoyed all of the replies here, and it's nice to get a real feel for what people are thinking & doing.

Congrats on earning enough online to pay for that holiday - nice work! It sounds to me like you are making smart decisions and working very strategically. I'm a big believer in personal responsibility, so I would say that you're smart to just be consistent with your part-time efforts. Consistent is the key - and will keep you in a good position no matter what comes down the road.

[Lynn Terry]

I started my blog as a "for fun" project with my sister-in-law, not really intending to grow a business out of it. But with some hard work and good luck we've managed to make full-time income off of our ebook and selling some affiliate products.

I feel ready to take things to the next level but find it hard to balance keeping up with our current post schedule, managing customer support issues, product updates, etc. and still have time to do more traffic generation.

Not to mention trying to do all this while pregnant and with two little ones at home. It's hard but I love it! I am able to make more with my blog than my husband's full time job and I am still at home with my kids every day. It has been life changing to have this kind of success and now I just want MORE.

Hey Jodi,

I love hearing a story like this!

Congratulations!

You already know what the next step is, right? It's to outsource. You're ready to build a team and scale this business out. Otherwise you're going to be stuck exactly where you are, and eventually become stagnant.

And your tone says it all - you want MORE!

Step one is to create an operations manual. Start with a list of everything it takes to run and manage your business - including the things you aren't currently getting to (such as marketing tasks/increasing traffic). Decide what you prefer to spend your time doing, and decide that for/with your partner as well. Strategically outsource the rest!

[Lynn Terry]

I am still with Watkins (will be 12 years in June) have done well -- and still doing most of my business online.

I decided to close the (low income) candle business in 2006 and go to dog grooming school. After graduating from grooming school I opened my own dog salon (remodeled the garage) at home in 2007. I specialize in working with just 1 dog at a time.. and this really has turned out to be my dream job... dog lover that I am!

Our Jack Russell Terrier (Lucy) went blind a while back, and I started a blind dog owner's support website at blinddogs .net including blind dog adoption listings -- and has taken a large amount of time to keep up with (thus my lack of forum visiting time.)

It's great to hear from you, Karen - and really great to hear how well things are going! Congrats on your success with Watkins, and with starting a home business you truly love. It sounds like things are going great!

I'll have to take a look at your new site - how are you monetizing it?

[Lynn Terry]

It's embarrassing to say I haven't made any progress. I see myself having three problems. One is no product to sell. Since many digital products are about how to make money selling digital products, I find myself reluctant to join in a cavalcade of similar products a large subset of which I find worth less than the pixels they are created with. Basically, I haven't found a product to sell or create that I feel enthusiastic about, feel I am adding value and so forth. So, no product.
Second, no process. I've studied a lot of material about marketing tactics, so I know quite a bit about stuff to do. Many processes I've learned still leave relevant portions of the process up to the learner to figure out. A lot of it is technical problems I run into while working on websites, for instance.
Third is a feeling of disconnect. When I'm working in the material world, there's real events and things to react to. When I'm working in the digital world, I find it much easier to lose focus. There's simply infinite amounts of content and at the same time, I am working primarily on a computer, not with people, places or things directly. So, there's a bit of a disconnect. Basically I never got connected to any person or groups where I felt a sense of comraderie and support in this process much less connection with a potential audience.

Hi & welcome to the forum, TLX

You make some very valid points, and I've actually heard them before. Quite a lot.

The good news is, there are solutions!

Start by reading these two posts in this order:

What is Internet Marketing??

How to Choose a Niche

You definitely don't want to jump on board creating products about creating products. I've seen it done time and again (unsuccessfully). The key is to find a niche you'll enjoy, and serving that market. They are online, and they are real people, and you'll find that community there that you're looking for.

See: How to Become a Market Leader in your Niche

The internet marketing niche is a volatile one. It's difficult to work in, especially for someone new to it. I got started in online marketing back in the 90's, when the landscape was completely different, and so even I struggle with today's market.

Choose something you'll really enjoy. I do. I throw darts (steel tip, in tournaments and charity events) so I started a dart supply site. It's actually fun to hang out in forums and groups, or read the news in that niche - because I enjoy it. I have several other niches like that too, and it's both fun AND profitable.

Trust me - there's a lot more out there on the internet than the "make money online" market

[Lynn Terry]

Hi Lynn,
I'm just starting and it's tough getting things off the ground. I work 3rd's and have been putting in a lot of OT lately (a necessity when you're at the $9.00 an hour level) and I'm too tired to open the laptop. However, things are starting to normalize at work and I'll be able to better organize my time. Hey look, I actually replied to your e-mail when a month ago I would have filed under "I gotta look at this...later."
Terry

Hey Terry, (I get called that all the time, by the way -lol)

When you're putting in a lot of hours like that, it's going to be tough to do much of anything on the side. If you can put in 30 minutes a day of focus time towards ONE project... that would go a long way. Being focused & consistent is the key, and a lot more important than the amount of time.

Most people that put in 8+ hours a day at starting an online business are spending the majority of those hours buying products, reading blogs, talking on Twitter, etc anyway.

Figure out the ONE thing you want to accomplish, and tackle it in bits a little at a time. You may be surprised at how far that takes you!

[Lynn Terry]

However, I’m struggling to turn lots of traffic into money. Despite my traffic increase many times, my income remains the same??? It is a very niche market, and I never had thoughts of grandeur as to the income, but a bit more would be nice.

Hey Matthew - great to hear from you

Congrats on the success with those sites. You've done a fabulous job serving that market!

I assume you're currently monetizing with affiliate links only - is that correct? I'd love to do another in-depth site review (maybe video, or just here on the forum - can be private if you prefer) and brainstorm your options for increasing the revenue.

You game?

[masonworld]

I am struggling with the fact that I have way more exciting ideas than I can possibly focus on -- especially given my full time job.

[GinaParris]

I don't feel I fall into any categories. I've been going through purposeful motions of building relationships. Sometimes feeling guilty for all the time I've invested in other people's projects, believing that I'm sowing some kind of seed for when I get struck with some passion.

Then last night I figured out what I REALLY want to do online, and offline, and how I want to make a huge impact. I had been so bummed with just going through the motions for the purpose of making money without any clear passion about connecting to something bigger than myself. I'll tell you all about it tonight, (well maybe not ALL about it, as our poor boyfriends would sit and stare at us talking a million miles an hour...)

I will say though, that Paul Evans @nicheology hit it on the head when he said that starting with money in mind is all wrong. The best beginning is a CONFLICT - something you feel you must change out there.

Great to have you back.